{Dreamland}

I usually don't focus on fashion related items (perhaps I should more, since I have such an interest in them), but I had to post these pictures. I want to live here, permanently. These new pics from the Anthro homepage are absolutely gorgeous, and I would love to be found wearing any of these beautiful things. I spend way too much time endlessly searching their web site dreaming of being surrounded by all the beauty that is Anthropologie. My wish list is updated weekly (and rarely comes to fruition) but it is an addicting dreamland. You could say i'm slightly obsessed. That flower, that scarf, that necklace, sigh........

{Little Darlings}

Here in the craft blog world we're used to seeing homemade dolls. Heck, if you do a search on Etsy you'll find thousands of them. This pattern is a basic one that, this gifted and wildly well known blogger, has made very popular. You can even get the pattern here if you want to make a small flock of them for yourself. The pattern is fun to make, and the opportunities to be creative with it are endless. I've made a few, given a few as gifts, and given myself a few. This one sits around my sewing area reminding me to make more of them! P.S. Overlook the linty scraps of thread!

{A Headache of A Project}

So, I started on the Amy Butler Birdie Sling pattern two days ago. I made a trip down to Beverly's Fabrics  to pick up some Amy Butler fabric (they were one of the only one's who carried the line, plus they take competitor's coupons-BONUS!) and while there asked one of their salespeople for a recommendation on fusible interfacing. This is where all went wrong. 

She led me to some interfacing which she said "would be great for the project". I took her up on her advice and bought the stuff-even though my intuition told me, uh...i'm not so sure about this.... 

Well...to cut a long story short...my Birdie Sling turned out beautiully-except that it was crinkly like a plastic bag. Litterly. The interfacing she told me to get was so stiff and paper-like that my bag made crunching noises at every touch. My husband even said-"Um...I could hear you coming with that thing, it's definitely not right". It was obvious the sales lady DID NOT sell me woven interfacing, and my beautiful (not to mention expensive-nearly $40) project was a bust. 

So...this is where the redemption happens. I called up Beverly's and talked to the manager. Telling her that the recommendation the sales women gave me was severely wrong, thus ruining my project. She told me to come in with the bag and she'd take care of it. So...I drove down to Beverly's, very disappointed I'd have to take another 6 hours to make a new bag. 

Well, now I'm a Beverly's fan for life. Not only did the manager give me all new fabric, interfacing and supplies to make a new bag, she gave me my money back as well!! Discouraged at the idea of having to make an all new bag, I tore open a seam and ripped all the paper out I could, barely salvaging the thing. It's no where near what the right one would have been (not to mention I had to cut two huge holes inside the handle) but at least its not crunching when I put it over my shoulder. (You can see in the photo how crinkly the handle looks. That was pre-paper rip out.)

On the other side of it- this bag is just too cute. I want to make a ton of them in all colors for summer. The bag is just the right size for me-HUGE. I love big bags that fit everything you could every want. Perfect for summertime. Perfect for springtime. Perfect, perfect, perfect. 

{Busy Bee}

I've been MIA since Valentines Day, almost a full month! My apologies. But i've been busy sewing and crafting away. More specifically, starting my spring veggie garden, tending to my tulip bed, paper cutting (three designs done!), building my little craft/sewing area (in pink and brown), sewing baby cloth shoes, dolls, and working on this little beauty as of this morning. Hopefully it'll be finished by tonight. Have fun looking at the Flikr group for this project, i'll post pics of mine when I finish it.

{Love, Love, Love}

Candy Hearts photo courtesy: Here 

{Baking, Wishing...}

I usually bake 1-2 times per week. A variety of things, cookies, cup cakes, frosting, breads, muffins, you name it. It's a sickening hobby. Sickening to my stomach, that is. While I do have quite a collection of cookie cutters and such I am always on the lookout for unique baking supplies. My dream job, create yummy things full time. Then I would be able to put all the fun things I come across to actual good use (instead of my own consumption) These amazing items are on my "wish list" of baking. The photos and items are from Bake It Pretty and you can bet i'll be ordering them.  

1. A gnome cookie cutter. 

(I would love to make a small army of these out of my favorite sugar cookie dough.)

2. My hands down favorite, petit pine cone cupcake toppers.

3. The cutest deer family cupcake toppers.

4. Some beautiful paper baking cups. 

Bon Appetite!

{Sweet Tooth}

I made several batches of these yummy cookies for gifts this Valentine's Day. The dough is buttery and the jam is a great alternative to the normal frosting and sprinkles. Well, I guess you could use sprinkles, that might be nice. Anyways, use this recipe and you're sure to be satisfying all sweet tooth's this V-Day. 

{how does your garden grow?}

Aren't these sweet? They are so easy to make, and a bouquet of them look great as decoration for the table, parties, whatever needs some color. All it takes is left over sheets of tissue paper folded accordion style, rounded at the end with scissors, then tied in the center with floral wire and fluffed. Quick and easy flowers anyone can grow, green thumb or not. 

{New Favorites}

I know its been months since I last posted but the holiday/new year proved to be a VERY busy one for my husband and I. We visited nearly 5 states in a 4 week span, covering the East coast back home to the West. It's safe to say that I almost went insane without completing one single Christmas/New Year project, but I vowed to myself that would be the last holiday without some type of crafty intervention. 

Now that I am back home and settling into the new year (can you believe that it's 2009 already!) i'm ready to start into some much overdue projects. Also, I have been designing and decorating my new work space (craft/sewing/office) and it is really coming together. Believe me, trying to use a x-acto knife on your coffee table doesn't go over well with the husband. But now, this new amazing space has been created for me and I can't wait to show you. That'll show up in a later post. 

Onto the purpose of this post, I have been acquiring a few new tools to add to my collection and ditching the ones that are in dire need of replacement. A few of my new favs are from the Martha Stewart Craft line at Michael's (of course). They include the 18" self-healing cutting mat. (No more marks on the coffee table!) and, just in time for valentines day, the cutest heart shaped hole punch. 

Who knew you could hole punch anything but a circle? Where has this been all my life? Seriously, the cutest and most fun tool i've used in quite some time. 

{Election! Election!}

Today is US Election Day! I am trusting all of you to exercise your right to choose who YOU think will best lead your country. VOTE! I voted by mail earlier this week (I am a little bitter I didn't get an 'I voted' sticker) and am anxious to see who comes out ahead. In California we have a few very controversial propositions that have been getting the best of some people (we've had 2 political signs stolen from our yard from non-supporters). Sheesh! People are really passionate about this years election. Let's pop the popcorn and sit back, it's gonna be a long night watching the election unfold. 

Graphic courtesy: Inside A Black Apple